title: The PLGA implant as an antimitotic delivery system after experimental trabeculectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) implants loaded with mitomycin C (MMC) and with different adjuvant treatments after glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS), in comparison to standard treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two New Zealand White rabbits underwent bilateral GFS and received different treatments: topical MMC (group 1); topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; group 2); PLGA implant (group 3); MMC-loaded and -coated PLGA implant (group 4); MMC-loaded and 5-FU-coated PLGA implant (group 5); subconjunctival bevacizumab (group 6); MMC-loaded PLGA implant and subconjunctival bevacizumab (group 7); and no treatment (right eye of all animals; control group). Intraocular pressure (IOP) and filtering bleb were evaluated on different days after GFS. Histology was performed to examine the conjunctiva, sclerotomy, filtering bleb, and persistence of the implant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The best hypotensive results were achieved in the MMC-loaded and -coated PLGA implant group, which presented the lowest IOP values on days 1, 5, 7, 14, and 28 after GFS. Excluding the implant groups, in which the bleb could not be properly measured, bleb survival was superior to controls in groups 1, 2 and lower in group 6. Group 7 presented greater extension, height, and vascularization of the bleb. Epithelial thinning and lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate were observed in groups 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7. The rates of closure of the sclerotomy and bleb were 100% and 76%, respectively, and implant persistence was 95%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMC-loaded and -coated implants have optimal surgical results, followed by topical MMC application. In this experimental model, bevacizumab could interact with MMC.
authors.affiliation: ICQO, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Agirretxe
authors.forename: Sandra Clarissa
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rezola
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vecino
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mendicute
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suarez-Cortes
authors.forename: Arantxa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Acera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050256:Antimitotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D050256:Antimitotic Agents; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004337:Drug Carriers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid
keywords: PLGA; antimitotics; glaucoma; implant; ocular drug delivery systems; trabeculectomy